Amarillo Republican John Smithee joins Texas House speaker race

State Rep. John Smithee, R-Amarillo, is the fifth person to enter the race for Texas House speaker.

Smithee, a 73-year-old attorney, is a long-serving Republican state representative from Amarillo. He is one of the most senior members of the House, serving in the Texas Legislature since 1985. He represents Texas House District 86, a solidly red area in the Texas Panhandle that includes Armstrong, Dallam, Deaf Smith, Hartley, Oldham, Parmer and Randall counties.